Un français en Asie
Incredible China
Incredible China – example 21: Warning! Work in progress…
011/05/2013
The renovation work in front of Phoenix City has started when I moved in this neighborhood (September 2011). The initial plan was to open a new subway exit for Sanyuanqiao station for Chinese New Year 2012. Couple of weeks ago, it was not finished yet and the subway station exit was still closed.
The new joke from the workers happened when they started to pour concrete on the pedestrian street to the subway. We can believe that those marks are footprints in the snow but that’s not the case… dozen of persons walked in the fresh concrete as no indication warned them. 
It remembered me an old post in Incredible China series where I described the workers’ effective working time (24/7). How workers can be effective and conscientious with this working rhythm?
Incredible China – example 20: forks & knives
019/03/2013
I was in the supermarket closed to my apartment couple of weeks ago because I wanted to buy a new wok, the big chinese pan. I walked in the kitchen part and I found the kitchen tools shelf.
Of course, most of the tools are chopsticks. Every sizes and colors are available. Nearby, I discovered something really strange. All the forks, knives and spoons are sold unitary. You can buy one fork or one spoon!
China should be one of the only country in the world where it is hard to find cutlery sets. I even saw some locals spent some time to choose one big spoon…
Incredible China – example 19: Addict to their mobile phones
023/01/2013
Today, I write an “Incredible China” linked to my work! People in China get a dangerous addiction to their mobile phones. This is common to find everybody around you with their devices in hands. They are chatting, playing or watching a movie.
The worst is that it is not the only place where they do it. This is usual to see them in the streets, at the restaurant or even during a meeting at the office… (more…)
Incredible China – example 18: Christmas spirit is booming here!
018/12/2012
Year’s end celebrations are around the corner; Beijing made this year a great effort to develop the Christmas spirit or 圣诞节 (Shèngdàn jié) in Chinese.
This is impressive to see the gap between this year and last year celebrations. It was really difficult to find a Christmas tree or some Christmas lights in 2011.
This year, all major shopping areas (Sanlitun Village, Phoenix Gallery…) and offices installed everywhere big Christmas trees and lights. The shopping markets also sell lights and small trees to decorate homes.
The locals start to be concerned by Christmas spirit. Several colleagues plan to give some gifts to their kids on Christmas’ eve.
Is this a new key festival in the long list of Chinese festivals? I think so… 
Incredible China – example 17: Kinder Egg
022/11/2012
I was really astonished when I discovered a “laughing cow” box written in Chinese in the mini-market closed to my apartment. New surprise yesterday when I found one of my favorite sweets in Europe, the Kinder Egg.
I was able to get my “chocolate fixes” buying some Kinder Bueno in European food markets but I never saw Kinder Surprise… (more…)
Incredible China – example 16: Mugs and cups for all!
029/10/2012
Snapshot from my Beijing life is back after a long break… I went to 798, the art center neighborhood this weekend and I met again this strange street vendor. He has every kind of cups: tea cup, coffee cup, mugs…
People seemed really interested and I understood why when I asked for the price – 3 pieces for 10 yuans, this is a good deal! If you are lucky, you can manage to find 3 pieces from the same set.
I met these vendors on all famous and popular streets around Beijing: Nanloguxiang, 798, Gulou….
Incredible China – example 15: IKEA is also in China…
022/07/2012
Incredible China is back to share some snapshots of my life in Beijing. This weekend, I went to the famous Swedish furniture store, IKEA known here as 宜家家局 (Yi Jia Jia Ju). They have been implemented in China since few years. It seems that their business is doing fine as the shop was really crowded.
The furnitures, products and even the department stores are the same than Europe. However, the customers got different habits during their visits to the store. (more…)
Incredible China – example 14: Ping-pong is definitely the national sport
028/05/2012
Chinese people are well known for their ability to play ping-pong. I started to find out the reason after few visits in different parks in Beijing. This sport is clearly the first sport in China. People from 5 to 79 years play ping-pong day and night.
All parks are equipped with several tables, free-of-use for the visitors.
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